Political Parties throughout American History 1792-2012

The Federalist Party

Following the Hamiltonian views of government, the Federalists were more a faction than a party-- they came about with a certain issue and subsided when that issue was resolved. They were very prominent during John Adams's presidency but after Thomas Jefferson was elected for his second term in 1804, they went declined greatly. After this, they faded away completely.

Feb 1, 1792

Democratic -Republican Party

Thomas Jefferson was the leader of this party. In 1828, when Andrew Jackson was running for office, it was shortened to the Democratic Party and they developed the donkey as their symbol. Advocating more rights for the middle class, this party favored states' rights as well as labor unions and laws that give more power to the people. They wanted as little power as possible in the hands of the federal government.

Apr 14, 1830

Whig Party

The Whig Party was the opposition to the Democratic Party during the Jacksonian Era. Most groups that were against Jackson joined forces within this political party. As a result, it advocated a diverse range of ideals such as states' rights, industrialization, and internal improvemts, such as road building. They finally split over the issue of slavery around 1856. Some assimilated into the Democratic Party while others found their way into other minor parties that were later formed.

Apr 15, 1840

Liberty Party

A minor party which was only around to impact the election of 1844, the Liberty Party took away a presidential win for Henry Clay, Their main focus was on advocating the anti-slavery cause. They also opposed the annexation of Texas. However, by confirming a win for James Polk, they actually sped up the process of annexing Texas.

Aug 15, 1848

Free Soil Party

Made by antislavery members in the North, this party supported the abolition cause. Also, they thought that the government should help the community more with internal improvements and handouts, such as homesteads. They ended in 1854 when they joined the Republican party.

Apr 15, 1850

The American Party

Because of their secretive nature, this party was also known as the "Know Nothing" party. Their nomination of Millard Fillmore in the election of 1856 split the Republican party's votes, resulting in a win for the Democrats with James Buchanon. The people in this party were known as "nativists", because of their platform of restricting immigration as much as possible as well as their advocation of temperance. They later dissolved and became apart of the Republican party.

Feb 28, 1854

Republican Party

The Republican Party was the suc other conservative parties successor of the other conservative parties that fell through, such as the Federalists and the Whigs. In the beginning they were against the spread of slavery. They favor higher protective tariffs and minimal government intervention in people's lives.

Apr 15, 1869

Prohibition Party

The Prohibition Party advocates temperance. They look for the complete banning of alcohol. Also, they have adopted many religiously influenced views such as anti-gay and abortion. The Prohibitionists are still strong advocators to this day.

May 15, 1872

Liberal Republican Party

Forming to oppose the corruption during Ulysses Grant's presidency, they promoted the cleansing of the administration. They were also against the Reconstruction that followed the Civil War. Nominating Horace Greely in the election of 1872, the hostility the Liberal Republicans showed towards Grant instilled fear in the Republican party to the point where they ensured the purification of the next Republican administration.

Feb 22, 1878

The Greenback Labor Party

Consisting of mainly farmers, this party believed that inflation can lead to better conditions in the economy. Also, they had programs to improve labor. In their time, they succeeded in electing 14 member of Congress. They later fell under the classification of the populist movement. This was later adopted by progressivism.

Apr 15, 1891

Populist Party

This party was comprised of many of the current activist movements that had beed going on at the time, with the exception of blacks. Mainly, they consisted of disappointed farmers who sought to nationalize railroad, other forms of transportation and communication. They also advocated womens' rights as well as a free-silver currency. The Populists' views were later taken over by the Democratic Party.

Aug 15, 1901

Socialist Party

The Socialist Party found much success when and placed many from thier party in local offices. However their candidate for the presidential win, Eugene V. Debs, never proved to be successful, although he did surprisingly rally quite a few votes. They advocated government implemented businesses and later supported the American Federation of Labor. They came to an end in 1972 and went under the name of the Social Democratic Party.

Apr 15, 1912

The Progressive Party

The were also referred to as the Bull Moose Party because of Theodore Roosevelt's Bull Moose Campaign of 1912 for the presidency. They advocated womens' rights, programs of social welfare, like insurance and minimum-wage/maximum-hours, and the joining of trusts and labor unions. They spoke for modernization and legislation for internal improvements. Their demise came in 1955.

Sep 1, 1919

Communist Party

This party was, and still is, a strong advocator of labor and womens' rights. Also, they were for integration and played a big role in the struggle against Jim Crow segregation. They shared many of the same views as the Socialist Party, The only difference was that the Socialists opposed the Russian Revolution when the Communist Party did not.

Jun 23, 1967

Peace and Freedom Party

This socialist party was made to stop the military actions in the Vietnam war. They promote racial equality, ecology, and womens' rights. They seek to instill a set income for everyone in order to get rid of poverty. They promote labor unions and seek to add many benefits for workers. They also want to eliminate all nuclear weapons, starting with those owned by the U.S.

Jul 8, 1967

Independent Party

The Independent Party was first led by George Wallace, a strong supporter of segregation. They now stand to keep, and maybe even improve, civil liberties such as outlawing technologies that are an invasion of the peoples' privacy. They look to better public education and want to put an end to corporate crime and faud.

Dec 11, 1971

Libertarian Party

Th Libertarians advocate minimum government in peoples' lives. They seek a capitalist economy, non-intervention, and free trade. They are against war. They believe government should not intervene on issue such as gay marriage, abortion and that the people should be protected from unreasonable search and seizure.

Apr 15, 1974

New Union Party

Having claimed that the Socialist Labor Party became too autocratic, this party branched off and became independent from the Socialists. They still carried the same view as to support industrial labor unions. They are a Marxist-Deleonist Party-- they follow the political and economic program of capitalism and the theory of history that was developed by Karl Marx.

Apr 15, 1991

Taxpayers' Party

They evolved into the Constitution Party in 1999. They oppose abortion and the war in Iraq because it was started without a declaration of war which was made mandatory for war in the Constitution. They find that the benefits given to immigrants are unconstitional. Also, they do not believe so many immigrants should be allowed into the country. They also believe that crime should be handled by the local government.

Aug 15, 2001

Green Party

Their primary goal is to help states parties. They promote ecology and non-violence. Their main focus is the good of the community. This means that they are for the bettering of the public education system for children. Also, they advocate for more benefits for labor. They also advocate the preservation of natural and cultural resources.

Period: Apr 15, 1890 to Apr 15, 1916

The Progressive Era

Many factions fell under the progressive ideas. The views of this 'era' were mostly for urbanization and modernization.